Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-07-25
LABOR MATTERS.
All Association shops Closed-Unpopu.
larity of the Free shop ldea-A Lynn
Firm Denounces the Board of Arbitra.
tiOn-New Plan Proposed.

BEVERLY. Mass, July %.
Still there is no settlement of the labor
troubles in this city. The conference com.
mittees were in session all day Friday and
from $50 A. NJ. to P. NJ. today. What
they do they agree to keep secret and they
have thus far done it pretty effectually.
Some things do leak out however. So it is
stated on pretty good authority that several
points of variance have been settled provis-
ionally-that is, if the few points remaining
are adjusted, then those will be on basis al
ready agreed upon. What they are it is diff
cult to say. The session today was entirely
harmonious, as was that of the previous day.
No one was admitted save the two commit.
tees. The State board of arbitration was not
present and will not be again, in all proba.
bility, unless the committees fail to agree.
One thing which came near upsetting the ne
gotiations at the start was special article in
the Boston Globe of Wednesday morning
This article attributed to the lasters certain
statements to which the manufacturers took
exception, and it looked as if they would re-
fuse to 60 on. with those charges standing.
The laster's committee, on Friday moring,
denied all knowledge of, or responsibility for
the articles, for themselves and their associa-
ton. A card to that purport has been sug-
gested, but the manufacturers are satisfied
now that the employees are not responsible
for any statement save the one published in
the Herald Tuesday evening.
The joint committee will meet again Mon
day, and resume consideration of disputed
points and continue till they agree or are
satisfied they cannot agree. The lasters are
represented by Nathaniel Huse and George
c. Herrick, the manufacturers by Joseph A.
Wallis of Wallis, Kilham & Bray, and Albert
Perry of A. Perry & Son.
The shops belonging to the association were
substantially all closed this afternoon. The
doors of many of them were found locked,
bosses off to drive, clerks and fOremen at the
beach and operators locked out in fact.
Probably two thousand hands will be idle on
Monday, possibly more than that. and pay
roll of four thousand dollars day will be
closed up. Norwood's is the only large fac
tory running and that is not in the associa-
ton. Woodbury. Bros. and Pushee have fac
tories out of town and will continue to do
work there until their lasters are sent out
No movement has been made to strike any
out of town shops, and the lasters here do not
intend that it shall be done if it can possibly
be prevented.
Some of the bosses are still pondering over
the free-shop scheme and want others to
adopt it, but the majority appear to be op-
posed, while the sentiment of the town is
very strongly in opposition. An intelligent
laster in conversation, Friday, said he did
not believe the plan would work, for the Nc
Kay stitchers would not run their machines
unless union men were employed. They had
a union as strong as the lasters and the two
always pulled together. The men who re-
paired these machines always worked with
the stitchers and lasters, and would not re-
pair machines for non-union men to run.
He called to mind the fact that one manufac
turer during the last labor trouble in town,
had difficulty about the repairs on his Mckay
machines, and was obliged to apologize TO the
repairer before the work could be done.
manufacturer says there is some doubt
whether the board of arbitration has any
power to compel the attendance of parties to
testify if they should eventually have hear
ing, because there is no trouble with our
lasters. We have none in our employ; thev
went out before the board of arbitration was
appointed, and fail to see how they can be
called our employees. Why, some of our
former men are work ing in Lynn and else
where; how can the board summon US to tell
anything about them when we do not hire
them?"
The board will hold an investigation how
ever, if the matter is not otherwise settled,
and make public all the facts, When they
do so it is suggested that they ascertain how
some of the shops changed the quality of the
stock used so quickly between the forenoon
and the time " hen the joint board came in to
look it over for the purpose of establishing
prices.
LYNN, july %.
For about three weeks an endeavor has
been made to adjust the prices of heeling.
buffing and edge setting at the factory of
Rumsey Bros. in this city. Overtures have
been made on both sides as to the manner in
which the differences would be adjusted, but
no agreement could be reached. The repre-
sentatives OF the labor unions in interest
made the proposition to have the State board
of arbitration settle the questions at issue.
The firm stated that it would give an answer
today upon that proposition. and 1t was met
by the labor union agents. Rumsey Bros.
stated that they could not refer the griev
ances to the State board for adjustment be
cause they did not have confidence in that
body. Pressed tor its reasons the firm stat
ed that ii was of the opinion there was too
much policy and politics controlling the three
State boards of arbitration members in not
one Of whom did they have sufficient conf
tChNS W nave thSHi pass JUGS hiShb uPOh NhSii
case.
The representatives the labor unions ar
gued in favor of the State board taking the
ground that the members had thus far sho. n
a commendable disposition to be fair and TO
DO justice to all sides. Rumsey Bros. were
not moved by this sort of argument, and
made the offer to settle the disputed wage
list by referring it to three men, one to be
chosen BY them, the second by the Knights
Of Labor, and these two arbitrators to name
the third man. 1t is understood that this
plan is satisfactory to the Knights of Labor,
and probably the srbitrators will be cary
named.
During the past year Rumsev Bros. have
lad a great amount of trouble in the arrang-
ng of wage lists, and, becoming dissatisfied
with their treatment here, have commenced
lpon the fitting up of large factory at Mans
field.
THE PROGRAM